Walk Off

Chapter 19

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Celia

It was official. She wasn”t ever going to stop loving Kyle.

She spent a long time tossing and turning, going over every word he’d ever said to her. Every look, every touch, every little thing he’d done in her presence.

He loved her. So why the hell was she trying to tell herself he didn’t? Why was she listening to a voice in her head when she knew that voice was wrong?

She wasn’t worthless. She’d done a bad thing keeping Jasmine from Kyle, but he’d forgiven her. It was time she started forgiving herself. And that meant admitting she was in love with Kyle and figuring out what to do about it.

She needed her friends, and maybe alcohol, if she was going to come to a conclusion.

Which was why she was on her way to Allana’s house for girls” night. They did this a couple of times a month. Sometimes they went out and sometimes they met at someone”s house. It was rare that everyone came, but tonight that happened to be the case.

Hopefully, a house full of women in love—with the exception of Zara—would be able to help her determine the best way to tell Kyle she loved him.

“Celia!” Allana answered the door in an energetic greeting. “Come on in.”

From the looks of it, she was the last to arrive and for some reason, it made her feel as if she was walking in on an intervention.

For her.

“Hey, guys.” She waved. “You’re all here early.”

Ruby stood up, coming toward her and then taking her by the shoulders and guiding her to a chair. “We all love you, Cel, no one more than me.”

“Oh shit, this is an intervention.”” She looked around the room at all her friends.

“It’s for your own good, sweetie,” Mae said, handing her a drink. “We hate seeing you unhappy.”

“You guys don’t have to do this.” She should be angry, but instead she was overwhelmed at how much support she had in her life.

“We do,” Hannah said. “You’re pushing away something great all because you think you don’t deserve it.”

“But I’m not,” she said. “Not anymore.”

Ruby gave her a quizzical look. “What do you mean not anymore?”

“I realized that I love Kyle and I think he loves me, and I’m done punishing myself for keeping Jasmine from him. I’m done believing my mom when she didn’t even love me.”

“Thank fucking god,” Zara said as she sagged back against the couch. “I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.”

Cassidy slapped Zara on the leg. “This isn’t about you.”

“Isn’t it? I’m the one who’s had to keep her mouth shut about Kyle loving her. I’m the one who had to listen to both of them bitching—”

Celia stopped her before she could go on. “What did you say?”

Zara looked around as if she was unsure what Celia was asking. “I don’t know. What did I say?”

“You’re a fucking fool.” Mae shook her head. “You just told her that Kyle loves her.”

Zara’s eyes widened. “No, I didn’t.”

“Yes, you did,” Cassidy said.

“Is it true?” Celia had pretty much stopped listening to everyone else and was staring directly at Zara.

Zara let out a breath. “Dammit, I kept that secret for like a week, and as soon as I got around all of you, I let it slip.”

“Zara,” Celia said loudly. “Pay attention. What did Kyle tell you?” She was frenzied, wanting to know exactly what he’d said to Zara.

“I guess we”re doing this.” Zara looked around the room and all the rest of the ladies nodded. “A week or so ago, Kyle came to see me, interested in me becoming his agent. I told him that I wasn’t about to divulge anything about you just because he was my client. He didn’t seem to have a problem with that. We talked about his previous agent and what he was looking for. He mentioned taking care of his family. I questioned that, asking if he meant Jasmine. His exact words were that you were his family too. No matter what. I took that to mean he loved you. So it wasn’t a shock when he called me today and told me he did. Love you, that is.”

A wave of calm settled over Celia. “He told you that today?”

“This morning,” Zara answered.

“Which is part of the reason we are all here right now,” Allana said. “We wanted to help you get out of your own way before he arrives.”

Celia shook her head. “What do you mean arrives?”

“He’s coming here, sweetie.” Ruby sat down on the edge of the chair she was sitting in. “He’s on a plane right now.”

“But he has practice. It’s spring training.” She was having a hard time wrapping her head around what they were saying.

“He couldn’t wait,” Zara said. “He called me in a panic and asked me to get him a flight. I called Ruby and she talked to Shane who sent the Strikers’ plane for him.”

“He’s coming here?” She was at a loss for words.

“He is,” Hannah said. “I guess the only question now is what will you tell him once he gets here?”

“I’ll tell him I love him and that I have loved him this whole time.” She stood up, ready to run out the door and meet him. “When will he be here?”

Allana looked at her wrist. “The plane landed ten minutes ago.”

The private airstrip the Strikers flew out of was only about ten minutes from Allana and Shane’s house. He could be there any minute. She looked down at the outfit she wore. “I look horrible.” She’d come in her sweats with her hair piled up on her head after a long day at work after what was a night of no sleep.

“He doesn’t care about that,” Ruby said. “He cares about you.”

The doorbell rang and Celia froze.

“That’s our cue,” Cassidy said. “We’ll be downstairs and won’t come up until you tell us to.” She gave Celia a hug, whispering, “Take the chance,” in her ear.

As they all walked out of the room, Ruby also hugged her. “Don’t let someone who never loved you shape your future.” She pulled back. “You are the best mom I know. Finding love and grabbing it with both hands won’t change that. If anything, it”ll make you stronger.”

Celia dashed a tear away from her eye as she watched Ruby walk away toward the basement.

The doorbell rang again and then there was frantic pounding.

She smiled at the thought of Kyle out there, hectic to get to her. He really did love her.

She rushed to the door, opening it quickly, his arm poised in a fist ready to pound against the door again.

“Celia.” His breath caught as they stared at each other.

Wasting no time, she went all in. “I love you.” Just saying the words gave her strength.

“Thank fuck.” He pulled her into his arms, his lips taking hers in a desperate kiss.

They kissed right there in the open doorway for what felt like forever. She never wanted to be apart from him, so when they came up for air, she held onto him.

“I love you so much,” he said, completely breathless from their kiss. “I have all these things I want to tell you, but that has to be first.” He cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I love you. It’s not the same love from when we first met, although that’s still there. This is different. It’s grown in a way that I never knew it could.”

“It’s the same for me. I thought I loved you all these years, but what I loved was the version of you, of us, when we first met. This version of you is something I never dared dream of. You should hate me, but somehow, you chose to forgive me. How can I not love that about you?”

He grabbed her hand, pulling her inside the house and shutting the door. Without speaking, he moved them to the couch where he sat and placed her on his lap. “You were right.” He shook his head as he held her gaze. “I’m not sure I would have handled us having a baby well if you’d have told me. I mean I would have loved her and you, but it would have been hard with how much I was focused on baseball. I wasn’t the person then that I am now. I hadn’t let go of the hate I had for my parents, and that affected who I was.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “You knew me before I did. You saw inside my heart, inside my mind, and saved us both from a future of hating each other. Thanks to that, now we get to love each other forever.”

Tears fell down her cheek and he wiped them away. “I hated keeping Jasmine from you. Everyday, I saw you in her and cried myself to sleep at night over the decision I made. You might not have been there, but you were a part of our lives always.”

“There’s no need to keep hashing it out.” He pressed his lips against hers in a sweet kiss. “There’s no grudge to hold. You have my love and I know I have yours. That’s all we need.”

She closed her eyes and took in the words he was saying and the love he was freely giving her. It washed over her body and cleansed her soul, freeing her from the pain and anguish she’d let overtake her life the last eight years.

His lips feathered over her cheek and then trailed down to her neck, where he nuzzled against her. “I need you.” Those words had her pressing her legs together to stop some of the ache in her body.

She opened her eyes to watch him. “How much time do you have?” She was desperate to have him against her, their bodies naked and writhing against each other.

“The plane leaves in the morning at nine.” His eyes were full of heat and it was all for her.

If they didn’t get out of there soon, Allana and Shane were going to need to buy a new couch. She slipped off his lap, standing and reaching out a hand for him. “My place is empty.”

She bit her lip, never more thankful for her sister. “Jasmine is with Dallas, and Ruby offered to have her stay over and take her to school in the morning.” It finally made sense why Ruby had suggested that earlier in the day.

Kyle stood, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his body. “We’ll be alone?”

She nodded. “For the whole night.”

A smile tilted his lips up. “Then what the hell are we doing here?” He practically dragged her to the door.

“Wait, I need to tell everyone we’re leaving.”

“Go!” several muffled voices yelled, making her laugh.

“Seems like they heard,” Kyle said, laughing as he flung open the door and pulled her through.

“I sort of want to be mad at them for that, but I can’t really drum up any anger when I’m so damn happy.” They reached her car where she turned around and leaned against it, checking out the man she loved.

“You’re about to be a whole lot happier.” He put his hands against the car right by her head, caging her in, as if she wanted to go anywhere that wasn’t with him.

“Is that so?” She lifted an eyebrow, hoping she was seductive.

“That’s very so.” He leaned closer, his breath fanning her skin. “There are so many things I want to do with you. To you.”

A shiver ran through her body. “Tell me.” She wanted to know everything he wanted and she was willing to bet she would do them all.

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, almost like he was nervous to tell her.

“Hey.” She lifted her hand to his face, caressing his cheek. “Nothing you want to do is bad.”

His face softened. “It just sort of hit me that loving you means I shouldn’t treat you how I have in the past.”

“Yes, you should. If you love me, you’ll give me what I want.” She grabbed the waistband of his pants and tugged him closer. “And what I want is you. Sometimes that can be sweet and gentle and sometimes it can be hot and dirty. Both ways, along with everything in between, works for me.”

He let out a heavy breath. “I fucking love you so much.” He slammed his lips against hers, kissing her with passion and fever. “The first time is going to be hard and fast, and, as soon as we walk in the door.” His eyes were wild.

She whimpered and her legs almost gave out at his words. “Yes, please.”

He laughed as they quickly got in he car. She drove as fast as was legal, and when she pulled up to her building, they each rushed out and up the stairs. She opened the door with her hand shaking, and when it was unlocked, Kyle pressed his front up against her back, turning the knob as he whispered in her ear.

“Are you ready to be fucked?”

She shivered and turned in his arms only to be pushed up against the door when it closed. His mouth was everywhere and it was obvious he meant what he’d said by her car.

“I can’t wait,” he said, his voice low and husky.

They were ripping clothes from each other’s bodies in a frenzy. She watched as he rolled a condom down his length and then in one long, fast thrust, he was inside her.

“Oh yes!” she shouted, unable to hold back. This man was everything to her and she was never going to hold back again.

He thrust over and over, taking her higher and higher. His lips were against her neck, biting and licking her skin and murmuring dirty things that brought her closer and closer to release. Her own hands tugged him closer as her nails dug into the skin on his shoulders and ass.

She didn’t want any extra space between them. Not ever again.

Heat coiled inside as her body found release and she came fast and hard. He was right there with her, shouting her name as his cock pulsed inside her.

It was spectacular, even if it had been the quickest release of her life.

“Shit.” He pressed his forehead against hers. “I promise I’ll last longer next time.” He kissed her gently. “I just missed you so much.”

“You’ll get no complaints from me.” She clung to him tightly, partly afraid that if she let go, he’d leave.

“I should take care of the condom.” His words sunk in and she realized she wasn’t nervous about an accident happening. She knew he’d be there to help if she got pregnant. She also knew she’d never again hide something so important from him.

She loosened her grip, lowering her legs to the ground, with his help. She grabbed their clothes up into her arms while he dealt with the condom. They came back together in her room, both of them on her bed.

“I want to spend all night making love to you, but I think there’s a lot we need to talk about.”

“I feel the same way,” she said.

He gripped her hand in his. “What would you think of me being traded to the Detroit Cougars?”

“What?” She was confused. “Is Arizona trading you?”

“No.” He shook his head. “I thought I could ask for a trade so I’d be closer to you and Jasmine.”

She sat up straight. “Absolutely not.”

“I can’t be away from you. I don’t want to be.” His voice cracked, making her calm down.

“I don’t want to be away from you either but, Kyle, I am not letting you be traded. You are the best player on the team, and from what I”ve been reading, they love you. There are rumors they’re going to give you a contract extension.”

He smiled. “You’ve been reading about me?”

“Of course I have. I love you and I want to know everything about you.”

He leaned in, kissing her lips lightly. “You are the best thing that happened to me. You and Jasmine. I don’t care where I play.”

She kissed him back, loving the way his lips felt against hers. “I care where you play.” She pulled back. “I told you before that I want you to have everything you deserve, and I won’t let you give that up for us.” He started to speak but she stopped him. “We didn”t have the knowledge or wherewithal to make it work back then, but we do know. We, you and me together, with Jasmine, can come up with something that will work for all of us.”

His big hands cupped her cheeks. “God, I love you.” This time, his kiss was desperate and powerful. Like, if he didn’t kiss her, he might not be able to survive.

She knew just how he felt.

“What do you suggest?” he said after he ended the kiss.

“I think we should see how Jasmine feels about moving to Arizona.” She’d thought saying those words would be difficult, but shockingly, they weren’t. She loved him and wanted to be where he was.

“I can”t ask you to do that.”

“You’re not asking, I’m offering.” She didn’t know how Jasmine would feel about leaving Valley Falls, but she knew her daughter well, and was pretty sure, if it meant being with her dad, she’d do it. “I want to do this. Let me do this for you.” She shook her head. “For us.”

She saw tears form in his eyes and her heart grew. This big, strong, man was crying because of something she said.

“No one has ever cared about me enough to give up their entire life. That you would do this makes me love you more.”

She pulled him against her body, wrapping arms around him tightly. “Never again,” she whispered. “Never again will you be alone. I will always be by your side.” They stayed like that, in each other’s embrace for long moments. Hugs were something neither one of them got a lot of in their lives.

All that was about to change.

No longer were either of them alone. They had each other and they had Jasmine.

“What now?” he asked when he pulled back.

“Now, we enjoy our kid free night, and in the morning before you leave, we pick her up and ask her how she feels about moving.” It was as simple as that. At least to Celia.

He searched her face, pushing a fallen piece of hair behind her ear. “You guys can wait a while to come. Get things settled here first.”

She was shaking her head. “No, I don”t think we can. I’m not saying we have to be together all the time, and I know you have to work, but I’m not staying here while you’re there. If Jasmine is on board, we’ll fly out tomorrow with you. We can take care of everything we need from Arizona.”

“What about your job and school for Jasmine?”

She laughed. “I’m pretty sure they have schools in Arizona. I’m sure I won’t have any issues getting her enrolled. As for my job,” she shrugged, “I’ll find something there. I’m not going to let minor details stop me from being with you.”

His face lit up into a huge smile.” We’re really doing this?”

“We’re really doing this.”

She hated all the years they’d lost but she was no longer going to dwell on it. Kyle was back in her life for good, and she wasn’t going to let anything change that.

In the end, walking away might have been the one thing that brought them back together.